Lindsey Graham on Koran-burning: “Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war”

posted at 4:00 pm on April 3, 2011 by Allahpundit

Skip ahead to 2:05, bearing in mind that this guy might have ended up as Attorney General under President McCain. A few minutes earlier, Harry Reid told Schieffer that Congress will “take a look” at Jones’s act and the ensuing “protests” in Afghanistan, so at a minimum there’ll probably be some sort of congressional resolution of disapproval. Maybe hearings too: Reid wouldn’t commit to that, but he didn’t rule it out. As for Graham, “I wish we could find some way to hold people accountable,” he laments, clearly deflated by the thought that the First Amendment applies even while we’re “at war.” And if you’re not sure what he means by “at war” — well, I’m not either. Are we “at war” only if troops are in the field? No Koran-burning, in other words, until the last U.S. serviceman has left Iraq and Afghanistan (and Libya)? Or are we “at war” as long as Al Qaeda and other anti-American jihadist movements exist, ready and willing to demagogue acts like Jones’s for their own uses? Even if all Islamist outfits in the world were eliminated, wouldn’t Graham want to continue the ban on Koran-burning lest it inspire new jihadist outfits to spring up? There’s no limiting principle to this idea, realistically. It’d end up being his own version of an “emergency law.”

Ironically, though, the more attention Congress devotes to this, the worse they’ll make it. If Reid and Graham were stupid enough to hold hearings (which they almost certainly aren’t), it’d be a galactic clusterfark — a spotlight for Jones, a red alert for civil libertarians, and an offense to a public that’s tired of double standards for religious insults. If nothing else good comes from this incident, though, it’s at least been useful as a window into the mindset of our trusted “ally” Hamid Karzai, who did his level best to earn brownie points with the fanatics among his constituents by demagoging this to the hilt. As voters get set for another debate this summer about whether we should draw down in Afghanistan, make sure that isn’t forgotten.

Blowback

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Free speech isn’t just a “great idea”…it’s a fundamental right. I thought one of the reasons we’re at kinetic action in Libya is exactly because the people of Libya have feared for their lives merely for what they say for 40 years.

I would like to retroactively apply of the Leftist’s criticism against Jones to the anti-war left in the Bush years. No, those protests didn’t directly cause the deaths of our/coalition soldiers or civilians, but they certainly had some role in them.

it’d be a galactic clusterfark — a spotlight for Jones, a red alert for civil libertarians, and an offense to a public that’s tired of double standards for religious insults

And most importantly, it would send the message that committing mass murder gets the desired result from the United States – appeasement. Frankly, this whole thing is making me reconsider my stance against burning Korans.

BTW how does Lindsay feel about the anti-war people during Vietnam? Didn’t the leaders of Vietnam themselves state that their resolve to keep fighting was based solely on that and they were ready to quit otherwise? Why wasn’t John Kerry and Jane Fonda prosecuted? They almost certainly put our soldiers in increased danger.

Tim Pawlenty supported McCain for President from before the first primary. Someone needs to ask Tim whether that support was a good choice or a mistake and whether he endorses these comments from fellow McCainiac Lindsey Graham.

For 2012, we need a strong repudiation of the McCain candidacy and the ideas behind it. I’d welcome Tim Pawlenty to offer such a position. He has already admitted his mistake supporting Cap and Trade. He has several more mistakes still to answer for.

Meanwhile, Romney has shown an unwillingness to admit that Romneycare was a mistake. So there’s no reason any conservative should support him either.

The Koran burning by that pastor was stupid. But it does fall under free speech, wartime or not. That Islamic extremists kill over the Koran burning is unreal and stupid.

During WW2, every outlet you can think of provoked the Nazis and Japanese, even cartoons like Bugs Bunny. In these PC days, you can’t even make a Muslim joke without being chastised for it, and we’re all walking on broken glass tip-toeing around not offending the Islamic extremist enemy. And it’s ridiculous.

I guess we’ll have to stop breathing then, I mean afterall, our breathing is very inflammatory to the “Religion of Peace”.
I’m actually too infuriated for words right now. Just know I’m seething and hoping the people of North Carolina (or is he fro SC? Sorry…) impeach him or recall him soon. He is a disgrace and anyone who elects him should be ashamed of themselves.

“I wish we could find some way to hold people accountable,” he laments

The average Arab Muslim on the street seems to be offended by many thing about Americans. Most of all, our freedom offends them, and the freedom that offends them most, is freedom of speech, which is closely related to freedom of thought. If anyone should be held accountable, it’s not someone exercising their freedom of speech, but lawmakers who seek to limit that freedom.

This is American politicians working hand-in-hand with their jihadi partners to destroy freedom in the US. Theoretically, they could instruct these elements to carry out the attacks and on what to say set them off afterwards.

Maybe the next ones will say Limbaugh set them off, or Hot Air.

deflated by the thought that the First Amendment applies even while we’re “at war.”

And, of course, Graham is for perpetual wars. It’s unlikely that he’d envision a time and place where free speech could be chanced.

This has frighteningly become par for the course…
Some lone lunatic or group of fanatics commits an act of extreme violence and numerous congressmen and other in our government as a first reaction suggest restricting the rights and freedoms of law abiding Americans.

They did it in spades after 9/11 (TSA anyone?). Numerous bills to restrict 2A rights have been written following the shooting at Gifford’s event. And now this.

Add to all this the fact that we are not “at war” technically as congress has not declared war since WWII, but rather in a protracted military action, and the cowardice and duplicity of these anti-constitutionalist congressmen is even more infuriating.

Perhaps burning a Koran a week is the solution. We burn one very publicly, watch for anyone who uses the event to foment violence against Americans and those who actually commit such violence and then those are the people we kill the following week. Lot easier than running around the mountains trying to find well hidden former Mujahadeen we armed and trained.

Are we looking to find a way to “hold people accountable” exclusively for Koran-burnings, or is it going to be anything that a crowd of hysterical, violent barbarians finds less than congenial? What if the Muslims find the continued practice of other religions to be an insult to their prophet? What if they decide that women who don’t cover up their hair are an outrage to decency? Graham, Reid, and everyone else who isn’t going to adhere to the oath he took to support and defend the Constitution needs to get out of the Government.

Are we at war with terrorism (AKA radical Islam/Islamists/Misunderstanders of Islam/etc)?

Or…

Are we at war with Islam?

sharrukin on April 3, 2011 at 4:17 PM

That’s a reasonable question. But as much as almost everyone sees those who incite murder over the desecration of the Koran as extremists, war against such people is indeed war against Islamic fanaticism and extremism. If we’ve got a war on terror then the enemy has just pitched one right over the plate…

The one thing Grahmnesty get’s right is we’re at war. What we should be doing is destroying every copy of the Koran we come across, demonizing it, and attacking the ideology it fosters. Honestly, I’m really disappointed we’re not targeting the most radical imams in the middle east who are proclaiming this crap.

Sen. Graham…you are intimidated by the enemies of America and our Freedom. Yes, “Pastor” Jones is a horse’s patoot. However, the same Constitution that allows him to do what he did, allows you the freedom to be a spineless jellyfish.

But as much as almost everyone sees those who incite murder over the desecration of the Koran as extremists, war against such people is indeed war against Islamic fanaticism and extremism.

shuzilla on April 3, 2011 at 4:44 PM

What fanaticism and extremism do you mean? Do you mean exactly what is called for in the Koran which is the Islamic holy book?

Inciting war… “Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”

Suicide bombers…”Let those fight in the way of Allah who sell the life of this world for the other. Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward.”

High status for Jihadists…”Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home).

Such jolly fellows… “So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them.”

No peace…”Be not weary and faint-hearted, crying for peace, when ye should be uppermost (Shakir: “have the upper hand”) for Allah is with you,”

So where did the Mullahs get it wrong in what they were demanding of their flock?

“Idea?” I thought it was a right. Silly me. It’s just an idea somebody somewhere thought of once. Not something to be taken too seriously.

I’m wondering do the terrorists ever sit around and think “Gosh.. I wish Abdul hadn’t burned that American flag before he beheaded that tourist! Barbarianism is a nice idea but we’re in a war!”

Hey.. what do you think? Wondering too about all the outrage Americans had way back in WWII when Disney was mocking ol Hitler and Toto in all those cartoons? Yeah, all those funny caricatures of Hitler probably made FDR furious and got even more GI’s killed!

No Senator! I don’t think we should be worried about ticking off the terrorists! If the congress and the President was actually doing what was right.. the terrorists would be worried about ticking us off! The freaking Democrats and the media have probably caused more GI’s to be put in danger over the years than some stupid Koran burning down in Florida!

The Bible is the best selling book of all time. I’d burn a Koran but I don’t want to waste the money or give the Koran the chance to make it on that list. Lindsey is just sticking his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.

Bag on Karzai all you want, but he is our ally and has survived more attempts on his life than our entire Congress combined. Reid and Graham and their cronies are far more corrupt than Karzai, too, and they don’t have to deal with their constituents rampaging over this stunt.

I have to agree with the majority of posters here. If Koran burning “aids and abets” the enemy and causes death,,then the likes of Jane Fonda, John Kerry, Code Pink, and all the other anti war types[really anti American/USA], need to be “silenced” also. The pols have already started down that slippery slope with their “hate crimes” legislation. It will only get worse.

If nothing else good comes from this incident, though, it’s at least been useful as a window into the mindset of our trusted “ally” Hamid Karzai, who did his level best to earn brownie points with the fanatics among his constituents by demagoging this to the hilt.

Genuine democracy throws up leaders who are “of the people” of the countries they serve. Perhaps we should be glad that the demos of Afghanistan are being so adequately represented.

“I wish we could find a way to hold people accountable. Free speech is a great idea, but we’re in a war. During World War II, we had limits on what you could say if it would inspire the enemy.

Um, Senator, would that include YOU?
Because you just inspired the enemy.
They use the burning as an excuse and you just validated that excuse.
You are encouraging this behavior so … … … oh, never mind.
You stopped listening to reason a long time ago.

Didn’t that German Islamofascist kill two US airmen because of a scene from Redacted that showed US soldiers raping a Muslim girl? Should the @sshat that made that movie, as well as the actors, be held responsible?

How about a congressional act condemning the killings of completely INNOCENT people by a blood thirsty mob of Muslims. How about an act condemning countries who murder converts to religions other than Islam.

I’m beginning to think it’s past time to use some classic psychological desensitization techniques on the Mideast ‘Muslim street’.

It’s like: we Americans, because of the proliferation of, say, burning American flags, don’t get really upset about that anymore, right? We have become kinda used to everybody on earth doing it, we are pretty much now “desensitized” to it. We actually tolerate lots more of that stuff in 2011 than we did in 1950, right?

So…the solution is…we need to burn MORE korans, lots of them, every chance we get. After awhile, the “Muslim street” will realize it’s just the way life is, tire of their slitting throats to no avail, and “get used to it.”

In the 60′s we burnt the American to prove we had the right to. In the 70′s and 80′s we burnt Bibles and desecrated religious to prove the constitution gave us the right to. Last week we burnt the Koran to again prove we had the right to – oops maybe we are not as free as we think we are.